‘Didn’t See The Sign, Huh?’

General Motors’ Opel unit (Europe), along with BMW, is testing the waters on a new gadget that could read traffic signs, according to published reports.

Yeah, that practically eliminates that old excuse you’d give the police if pulled over for speeding: “‘Officer. I didn’t see the sign.”

“Oh, you didn’t, huh?”

In addition to informing drivers of the speed limit on any road, the system also gives them of other warning signs as well. and relays the information back to drivers in the car.

The hope is that the technology could help lure in buyers who yearn for the latest technology when behind the wheel. Of course, the system has some rather obvious safety benefits as well.

Apparently, neither GM nor BMW have indicated exactly when the system might be available in the U.S. There are a few kinks still being worked out.

According to the reports, the system is having trouble reading digital signs. But with the push for more technology and the need for GM to aggressively, I don’t imagine it’s going to take long to hammer out those issues. —M. Amick